01 Jul 05. To celebrate the on-schedule achievement of a vital milestone in the Typhoon programme, a Typhoon display and a formation flypast of four Typhoons marked the departure of the second Royal Air Force Typhoon squadron from Warton for their permanent base at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire. 29(R) Squadron, which has been based at Warton for the past eighteen months under the ‘Case White’ Entry Into Service programme, is responsible for the Operational Conversion of the RAF’s newest combat aircraft.
24 Jun 05. Lockheed Martin opened a new facility for the precision alignment of high- technology radar, such as the Volume Surveillance Radar under development for the U.S. Navy’s DD(X) next-generation destroyer. The 11,300-square-foot facility is the latest advancement in Lockheed Martin’s solid state antenna technology development. Previous steps included an increased capability to build Transmit/Receive Modules, which are the heart of the phased array antennas, and a prototype antenna that first successfully tracked live targets in late 2003. This new Solid State Radar Near Field Test Facility is a contained structure with various testing instruments. When a radar antenna is installed in the facility, it can be operated at various power levels to test and adjust the alignment of both transmit and receive elements. After testing of the S- band Volume Surveillance Radar antenna is completed, the unit will be shipped to support DD(X) Dual Band Radar testing.
21 Jun 05. Northern Ireland (NI): Reduction in Troop Numbers. The Armed Forces’ Minister announced that 1st Bn The King’s Own Scottish Borders (1 KOSB) would not be replaced as Omagh Resident Battalion, when its tour ended in August 2006.
Comment: There are approximately 11,000 military personnel based in NI at present and the departure of the Omagh Resident Battalion will reduce this number by about 550. Eight Infantry Battalions are currently dedicated to NI: four Resident Battalions (on two-year tours, accompanied by families); one Roulement Battalion (on a six-month, unaccompanied tour) and three Royal Irish Regiment Home Service Battalions (permanently based in NI). (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 05/25, 27 June 05)
Jun 05. Armed Forces: Trained Requirements and Strengths. As at 1 Apr 05, the UK Regular Armed Forces were under-established by 4,600, or 2.5%. Details are at page 3.
Comment: The trained requirement for all three Services is being reduced, as explained in Note 1 on page 3. An initial reduction in the trained requirement was authorised from 1 Nov 04. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 05/25, 27 June 05)
Jun 05. Joint Personnel Administration (JPA): Introduction. DLO News noted that JPA is to be used by all Service personnel and is being introduced in three phases. The RAF is due to convert to JPA in March 2006, the RN/RM in mid-2006 and the Army in late 2006. The new system will be accessed via the military IT network.
Comment: It is claimed that JPA “will modernise personnel administrative processes….by providing a single and authoritative source of reliable, accurate and up-to-date information”. Apparently, “JPA will introduce greater responsibility for the individual in managing personal data and transactions”. (The more imaginative Service personnel should have fun with JPA….) (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 05/25, 27 June 05)
29 Jun 05. BAE SYSTEMS is creating a single UK Land Systems Management Committee responsible for the delivery of the strategy. This Management Committee will be focused on improving the profitability of the UK business; implementing the Through-Life Support and Medium Weight Vehicle strategies; ensuring an approach to market reflects customer processes and requirements, whilst, along with Land Systems Hagglunds and Land Systems South Africa, developing a Land Systems culture. In support of this approach the existing Weapons & Vehicles business will be re-engineered into 3 “lines of bus